HEC to re-verify degrees of 189 candidates: Javed Laghari

Islamabad—Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr. Javed Laghari has said that as per Supreme Court order, the commission would issue notices to 189 election candidates for verification of their degrees.

Talking to media persons after hearing of fake-degrees case, Dr. Javed Laghari said that Chairman Higher Education has only authority to verify degrees of candidates.

HEC chairman said all suspected candidates must submit their degrees of metrication, intermediate or equaling and higher degrees till April 5.

Laghari said the offices of HEC would remain open late night to complete the task within defined period.

“Degrees of 54 members of the parliament are fake, while 189 candidates for elections have failed to produce a valid degree of matriculation or intermediate.”

This was observed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry during the hearing of fake degree case by a three-member bench at the apex court.

Ishtiaq said that a committee has been formed to review the matter and suggest necessary action in this regard. He furthered that 27 cases were dispensed while FIR has been filed in 21 of the queries.

It is to be mentioned here that that the day of the general elections is closing in and therefore, such cases and decisions in them have become more important.

The CJP has given 189 members of parliament two-day deadline to get their degrees scrutinized and endorsed. The ECP reserves the right to declare them ineligible to take part in general elections.

He further said that proceedings against 54 of the candidates is still to be taken. He ordered that the returning officer should be informed of the candidate&#8217;s falsifying statements during the process of scrutiny.